Why did you create a ring dial instead of a touchscreen?
Sven Baacke: It’s easy to go all in on touchscreens but we wanted to create something lasting. People love to feel things. That tangibility matters. The ring doesn’t just respond, it reacts. It’s a quiet conversation between the user and the appliance.

The ring looks simple but contains many innovative details. What are its key features?
Sören Strayle: It integrates the main switch, a proximity sensor, a touch sensor and a sensor for rotation and speed. It looks simple but offers full interactivity. When you approach the appliance, it lights up. When you touch the ring, it responds. That sense of dialogue between person and machine was key. People see a simple ring – I see 10 years of work.

How important was materiality for the Expressive Series?
Baacke: We never wanted to use artificial materials. The ring is stainless steel – it’s part of Gaggenau’s history. Engineers asked if we could use plastic or aluminium. We said no. You can feel the difference in weight and texture. It had to feel right.

The kitchen is increasingly the hub of modern homes. How did this shape your approach?
Strayle: With kitchens becoming more open and social, the appliances need to be present – but not overpowering. When not in use, the oven recedes into the background. But when you need it, it’s right there – with a gentle click of the ring.

How is the Expressive Series inspired by Bauhaus principles?
Strayle: It’s really about art and technique working in unity. That spirit of designers, architects and craftsmen operating as equals drives us today.

Baacke: It’s easy to relate our design to Bauhaus in terms of form and shape but really the connection is simplicity. Everything is possible in these times. There is endless choice. To have a brand decide what matters and focus on simplification, that’s very “Bauhaus” to me.

Photographed at Holzrausch Interior Design Studio, Munich